on not getting paid
this happened to me recently. i was in a bar, minding my own business when this turnip in a beanie comes up to me and he says “hey, didn’t you used to be in the film business back in the day?” i’m too old to take offence at the obvious taunt implied by his question so i just nod. he continues, “well my buddy wrote a script so maybe you can look it over and give him some advice.” i tell them both my reader’s fee and they laugh disparagingly and then i beat them both at pool.
later on i wonder why i took offence. it’s true i did make movies back in the day and the world of movie-making is a world of always nowness, it’s not a world of historical consciousness, at least not here in south africa. i suppose there was something in the turnip’s contempt that really stuck in my craw. he thinks of himself as a “film maker” as well, except the kind of “films” he makes are coca-cola commercials for more budget per thirty seconds than i ever had for all of my under-underground features put together.
he dreams of making a feature length movie. but he wouldn’t consider getting out of bed for less than thirty grand a day. i’m a freak to him, something that never learned how to get paid.
aryan kaganof
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